Hurst on Young Professionals

Shrewsbury Town Manager Paul Hurst has urged Town’s young starlets to hit the ground running when they become professional footballers for the first time next season.

Hurst met with the majority of his squad next season in order to talk through his plans for the 2017/18 season.

Five youth team players – Ryan Sears, Callum Roberts, Chris Gallagher, George Hughes and John McAtee – have been offered professional deals with the club and Paul wanted to make it clear what he expects of them ahead of next season.

“They’ve been in today (Tuesday) I think partly to reiterate the conversation we had when we offered them deals”, Paul told ShrewsWeb.

“I think at the time there’s an element of them obviously being nervous going into the meeting and then they are told and they are excited and I think their heads are not quite there.

“I wanted to nail down a few things and make it clear what’s expected of them over the summer and when they first come back. I think it’s hard for people who haven’t been footballers to understand how intense the environment can be.

“That break will come for them and they can have a bit of down time, but they’ve all got their programmes to work to and then they will be back in and hopefully they will hit the ground running.”

All five players are expected to be involved in Town’s final youth team game of the season away to Walsall on Saturday.